Is Dayton giving up on tax reform?

March 17, 2013

Comments

JReader

Every time the government raises taxes the money has to come from somewhere. It won't ever come from the profits of business, however. They will pass it on every time so it will be those who buy their products who will ultimately pay the tax. When Dayton wants to raise taxes people should see who will actually get stuck paying the bill. In most all cases the lower & middle classes are the one's picking up the tab.

GopherState

Either tax internet sales or eliminate sales taxes all together and raise the business or upper income taxes. I prefer the online sales tax. It is unfair to local businesses that stock goods to be a showroom for amazon.

I'm surprised that businesses haven't found a way to file some sort of favored nations lawsuit over unfair taxation.

TURBO75

I do believe we have hit a bit of a sore spot with caresabout. It's tough to keep the "poor farmer" bit going during these times. I noticed there was no attempt to justify the disparities with the sales tax code.

careaboutsnivelrights

There is lots of farm land for sale this spring, still time for you loud mouths to purchase it and start farming, give it a whirl! farmers have it made and are all millionaires so why do you guys keep working in town?

Integrity

Turbo: don't forget about your lawn mowing analogy: if the lawn mowing business puts up a little shed to store the lawn mower-depreciation over 39 yrs, the farmer - same shed - 1-2 years, depending on the govt program in place. Sorry to stir the pot against the farmers...

careaboutsnivelrights

TURBO75

A 13yr. old starts a small lawnmowing business, he pays sales tax on the parts he needs to keep the mower going and he is suppose to charge sales tax on his service. A 50yr. old farmer who owns 200 acres, now a millionaire, pays no sales tax on the parts he needs to keep his farm eq. running. Explain to me the logic of this.

Avoice

I think the whole taxing structure in the State of Minnesota needs a major study and overhaul. To include fiscal disparities, the Taconite Tax, the LGA formulation, sales tax, and property tax should all be studied. Each year the legislature meets they insert, revise, manipulate formulas to the current law and go home saying they did a good job. Example, a small city recruiting efforts brings in small businesses which has an effect on the amount of LGA or if they are receiving Fiscal Disparities or Taconite tax relief. Their efforts only reduces the amount they receive and transfers to towns which do nothing in business recruiting. Just a thought.

Integrity

Taxing every retail transaction would raise a middle class family's overall tax liability, even with a lower rate. Currently, somewhere around 67% of today's economy is service based transactions. So, if you lower 33% of the transactions 1.8% but increase tax on 66% of the transactions 5.5%, the overall net is a gain (and a significant one at that). That's how they can promote increased spending with this tax overall, because they will have more income. And taxing transactions like this affects more than the top 1% they talked about going after. Propoganda.

TURBO75

Put the tax on every transaction and then lower the rate. Also extend that lower tax rate to online, out of state purchases. This would be fair to everyone, including in-state retailers who are losing sales to the internet.

Avoice

Avoice

turbo75 the only thing taxing every retail transaction gives rise to who pays the tax does not satisfy the hue and cry of lowering taxes being paid by the middle class and lower income people. This almost sounds like taxing the less than 8 oz snack bags but taxing the over 8 oz packages.

TURBO75

As soon as he tried to extend the sales tax to other goods such as expensive clothing he was ripped to shreds by special interest groups. To be fair the sales tax should apply to every retail transaction except food. As it is now, the sales tax is a confusing mess.

middleclassworker

Somebody is going to some day need to institute some tough love on this country's tax system and spending problems. Patriotism means putting the good if your country before your own selfish interests. Too many people and businesses have forgotten that.

Avoice

While the Governor may want to bring up tax reform and overhaul, the Democrats in both the House and Senate have no interest in doing so. Doing so would bring out a lot of "sacred cow" taxes which they would not want reversed, revamped, or even discussed.